A professional home stager has a slightly different skill set than a typical interior decorator. Instead of learning about the homeowner and decorating to suit their tastes, they deal with the psychology of potential buyers. They decorate homes so those homes will sell.
This means arranging furniture so there is a flow throughout the space. They pay attention to sight-lines and angles, color trends, and finding the right balance between uncluttered space and coziness.
The rooms they stage are set up to look and feel good, but not necessarily for daily life. For example, the most comfortable seat in a staged room may not have a view of the TV, which it surely would if the homeowner arranged the furniture. Or a room used for sewing or crafts might be restaged as another bedroom, especially in a neighborhood that’s desirable for large families.
Staging choices and furniture placement will be all about aesthetics, flow, and what will sell best in the current market.